Assessment Forum – Cohort 2

Instructions:  You have been asked to help design a career assessment program for your customers. What are one or two assessments [formal or informal] you would use with your customers? Make one original post and then respond to one classmate’s post. You will make a total of two posts.

Remember that our learning group works in a full value environment: We treat our colleagues with respect and professionalism. Our comments should reflect this culture.

11 thoughts on “Assessment Forum – Cohort 2”

  1. Esther Landin says:

    Typically, I have used the O*NET Interest Profiler because that is what the local WDB asked us to use. Not only did we not receive any training on it, but I never really considered whether or not it was the right assessment to use with the clients at the time. However, knowing now what I know after my years of experience and the goals of the program I am developing, I know I don’t want to just stick with the O*NET because that is what I know. My program is going to be connecting individuals to specific career pathways and I am still trying to determine the best battery of assessments. I do anticipate, however, using more than one assessment in order to get a clear picture of what career path is best suited for our clients. I just haven’t decided what those are going to be. Chapter 4 listed some assessments that I have never heard of and I will be spending some time learning more about them so I can figure out which assessments will be used in the program.

    1. Margarita Chavez says:

      Hi Esther, if you had been trained on the site, what would you have wanted the experts to tell you about the site? What from the O*NET do you find helpful and how can that be beneficial to your program and what is the downside to using the site. Which assessments do you think you would try out first with your clients from chapter 4? The one thing I like because I worked with some veterans group from this site you noted was the crosswalk for military jobs. I will be definitely referring clients to that or veterans when looking for civilian jobs. If you have any more guidance on that portion of the site I would appreciate it.

    2. Dorian Esters says:

      I agree that more than one assessment should be used to get a clear picture. I also believe that participant A can have different needs than participant B, so a different assessment could be used for each.

    3. Clarence Hulse says:

      Hi Esther – I like the O-Net Interest Profiler as well as it was not too demanding and would like be less intimidating to a first time client. It was for me. This is my first foray into the world of career testing and I found it quick and easy.

      1. Efren Cigarroa says:

        Esther, the O*Net is a good assessment to complete. I like that at the end of the assessment it also provides additional links to look at to see if the customer has the qualifications for the job, what is needed to be successful and if it is a career that will be growing or in decline. It provides a lot of information.

  2. Margarita Chavez says:

    I honestly do not have much experience with online programs and as the reading states, I would need some training on how to use the assessments even it is a portal self-driven one. Since our target population for MCF’s Labor One Stop Center is based on union jobs and previous position I would refer people to the unionjobs.com clearinghouse and/or directly to the training program coordinator. Never even occurred to me to refer members to any of these sites.
    I would need to look at the psychometric properties of an instrument to decide which site would be best for our clients. Keeping it simple for the client is my first thought. After taking the O*Net interest Profiler, I like this card sort method and if I do not use this site something similar to this method seems intriguing to me.

    1. Dorian Esters says:

      I like the Card Sorts assessment as well. As far as one’s interest relating to work, the O*Net interest Profiler instrument seems easy enough to use and explain.

      1. Clarence Hulse says:

        I did find the Life Career Rainbow facscinating as it seems to fit a mature person who is looking to change career and need to take full account of education – formal and informal, life circumstances and where they are in life as they decide the next steps. It does seem a little complicated and may take a lot of time to complete.

  3. Dorian Esters says:

    I have only used the O*NET Interest Profiler at my past employer. Like Esther, I had no formal training on this instrument. What I recently learned is, the most important thing when using assessments is to choose an assessment tool that is appropriate for the individual or group being assessed. I would need time to discuss with my Directors and consider which instrument makes the most sense based on our organizational capacity and target population. I would need time to and would encourage all our decision-makers at my foundation to review the Counselor’s Guide to Career Assessment Instruments (Wood & Hays, 2013) to make a decision. Finding a Level A assessment that is to be used in a helping relationship, based on quality research, and that was created by individuals with appropriate credentials is critical when choosing a formal assessment. As far as informal assessments go, I am leaning towards a Card Sorts type.

  4. Clarence Hulse says:

    I would utilize the O-Net career assessment program for my customer. It is very easy to use, multiple choice and allows the user to look at a broad range of interests. The results covered the individual, skill abilities they possess and pointed them to most likely career interests. I think the job outlook was also very helpful as it allows the customer to know the market value of their skill sets and what they would need to get there.

  5. Efren Cigarroa says:

    I used the My Next Move assessment with my customers. I think that it is a quick and easy assessment to complete which also helps the customers when they are unable to decide on a career path. This assessment either validates the career path that they had or gives them ideas on exploring other options when looking for work.

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